Box Stitch Cowl in Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky - ER13-01 - Downloadable PDF

Box Stitch Cowl in Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky – ER13-01

This knitting pattern produces a beautifully textured, generously sized circular cowl worked entirely in the round. Designed exclusively for Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky yarn, the finished piece offers a sophisticated interplay of raised and recessed stitches that creates the signature box stitch effect — a classic, visually striking texture that looks complex but is built from a simple four-round repeat. The cowl is wide enough to be worn doubled around the neck or draped loosely as a cozy shoulder wrap, making it a versatile and practical accessory for cooler seasons.

Finished Measurements

• Circumference: approximately 80 cm (31½ in)
• Width: approximately 50 cm (19¾ in)

Materials Required

• Yarn: Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky, colour number 515, 3 x 100g hanks
• Needles: One set of 5.00mm (US 8) circular needles and one set of 5.50mm (US 9) circular needles
• Notions: One stitch marker

Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky is a chunky-weight yarn, making it an ideal choice for this project. Its merino content gives the finished cowl a soft, next-to-skin feel, while the chunky weight means the fabric knits up quickly and produces a satisfyingly substantial, warm fabric with excellent stitch definition — perfect for showcasing the box stitch texture.

Gauge

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 15 stitches and 24 rounds over 10 cm (4 in) in Stockinette stitch using the 5.50mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is important for matching the stated finished dimensions, particularly the generous circumference and width of this cowl.

Techniques and Construction

The cowl is constructed as a seamless tube worked entirely in the round on circular needles, which means there is no seaming required and the right side of the fabric always faces the knitter. A stitch marker is placed at the join to track the beginning of each round. The construction is straightforward and well-suited to knitters who are comfortable working in the round and reading a simple stitch pattern repeat.

• Cast On: 144 stitches are cast on using the smaller 5.00mm circular needles, joined carefully to avoid twisting.
• Twisted Rib Edging: Nine rounds of twisted rib are worked at both the cast-on and cast-off edges using the 5.00mm needles. Twisted rib is a variation of standard ribbing in which stitches are worked through the back loop, creating a denser, more elastic, and crisper-looking edge than conventional rib. This detail adds a polished, professional finish to both ends of the cowl.
• Main Body: After the initial rib, the knitter switches to the larger 5.50mm circular needles and works the four-round box stitch pattern repeat until the piece, including the ribbing, measures 28 cm, ending on Round 4 of the pattern.
• Second Rib Edging: The needles are changed back to the 5.00mm size for a further nine rounds of twisted rib before casting off in rib.

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on just two fundamental knitting stitches — knit and purl — arranged in a specific sequence to produce the box stitch effect:

• Round 1: K2, P2 repeated to end of round
• Round 2: K2, P2 repeated to end of round
• Round 3: P2, K2 repeated to end of round
• Round 4: P2, K2 repeated to